Electrochemical degradation of clindamycin in ethanol medium

• Grant number: 22/11761-1
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2022
• End date: October 31, 2023
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Physical-Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Artur de Jesus Motheo
• Grantee: Júlia Faria Silva
• Host Institution: Instituto de Química de São Carlos (IQSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Associated research grant: 17/10118-0 - Study and application of electrochemical technology for the analysis and degradation of endocrine interferents: materials, sensors, processes and scientific dissemination, AP.TEM

Abstract

The preservation and maintenance of the quality of water resources represent the central issue forhuman development. With the technological advances achieved, it was possible to detect thepresence of new pollutants in water at very low concentrations, called emerging pollutants, whichresulted in the need to adapt the treatments usually used for water and effluents. The present projectaims to evaluate the efficiency of the combination of two processes, adsorption/desorption andelectrochemical degradation, for the treatment of contaminated aqueous systems. It is expectedthat with this combination of processes, it will be possible to overcome the limitations found inthe electrolysis process of contaminated solutions such as low concentrations of pollutants. Thus,the process of removing clindamycin, a drug of the antibiotic class, will be evaluated by acombination of processes: i) pre-concentration, consisting of an adsorption step on granular activecarbon, followed by a desorption step using ethanol as solvent , and ii) electro-oxidation, using acommercial electrode of the metallic oxide mixture type, the dimensionally stable anode (DSAâ).In view of the semiconductor nature of the DSAâ coating, photo-assistance to electrolysis will alsobe used, with the consequent comparison of the electro-oxidation processes. The parameters whoseinfluence on the electrolysis will be analyzed are the nature of the supporting electrolyte (NaCland Na2SO4), the current density (10 to 50 mA cm-2), the pH value of the medium (3, 7 and 11),the concentration of water in the medium and the initial concentration of the contaminant (50 to1,000 mg L-1).